Our Habitas Ras Abrouq marks the brand’s second property in the region, inviting guests to explore Qatar’s untouched west coast
Isabella Craddock
Our Habitas is known across the world for its laid-back, wellness and community-oriented – though still five-star – resorts, popping up in recent years in idyllic locations like Namibia, Morocco and, famously, AlUla’s ancient Ashar Valley. Now, the brand has announced its newest home, Our Habitas Ras Abrouq, marking its second resort in the Middle East and first in Qatar – following the recent announcement of three upcoming properties in Leyja, NEOM Saudi Arabia.
Opening in January 2024, Our Habitas Ras Abrouq will lie on Qatar’s peaceful west coast, bordering the UNESCO-protected Al-Reem Biosphere Reserve, and bring the same zen-like, soulful experience it delivered at Habitas AlUla to its exciting new site. The hotel will open in collaboration with Qatar Airways and form part of a new multi-destination hotel circuit in the region, allowing for a more profound discovery of the culture, history, diverse nature and people.
Nestled in the untouched region – an hour’s drive from the vibrant capital Doha – Our Habitas Ras Abrouq will celebrate the brand’s commitment to delivering ‘luxury for the soul’ through new experiences drawing from Qatar’s thriving creative industry while celebrating Our Habitas’ brand pillars of music, art and culture, wellness, adventure, food and learning.
Set alongside the dramatic coastline and framed by desert, guests will reside in 42 striking tented villas, ranging from one to four bedrooms and all coming with private pools and spacious outdoor decks overlooking the Arabian Gulf. As not to disturb the natural aesthetic, tented villas blend in seamlessly with the creamy sands, complete with Habitas’ signature earthy decor. Design touches include tasselled rope, natural wood, plenty of plush fawn cushions and soft furnishings and pay homage to Qatar’s rich heritage with pillowcases in traditional patterns.
The resort will feature Qissa Restaurant, a terrace lounge, beach club and bar, wellness centre, state-of-the-art gym, watersports adventure hub and padel courts – showcasing Our Habitas’ commitment to wellness, rejuvenation and allowing guests to reconnect with themselves, and with loved ones. A central swimming pool fringed with sunloungers will overlook the ocean – reminiscent of the brand’s now iconic swimming pool at Habitas AlUla.
While seemingly remote and secluded, Our Habitas Ras Abrouq is set just 1km from one of Qatar’s most popular attractions, Richard Serra’s iconic sculpture, East Meets West, and the property aims to use the surrounding desert as a place to stage art exhibits, one of a kind pop-up dining experiences, film screenings, concerts and more. The new resort will bring travellers to a largely unexplored side of Qatar away from the capital – one steeped in natural beauty and teeming with wildlife.
Staying true to the Our Habitas brand, a brand that fosters connections with the locale and encourages exploration of heritage and culture, guests will be able to immerse themselves in ancient traditions such as the craftsmanship of pottery, the art of calligraphy and Al Sadu weaving workshops, alongside watersports, desert survival training and wellness practices centred around mind and body. The hotel will also operate with Qatar Tourism, Qatar Museums and creative institutions to curate itineraries that provide one-of-a-kind insights to both the region’s history and spotlight the emerging talent forging its future.
‘As the national carrier of the State of Qatar, we are helping propel the 2030 National Vision forward through our partnerships,’ said Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer. ‘Together with Our Habitas we are working to unlock the future of travel by curating one-of-a-kind innovative experiences. Our Habitas Ras Abrouq, truly is a breathtakingly beautiful Qatari desert destination and now global travellers across the Qatar Airways network can experience this landscape in a unique way when they fly to Doha.’
Our Habitas has committed to fulfilling the United Nations’ Sustainability Development Goals for the year 2030 and ensuring that all new projects align with this vision, and the new desert resort has already received recognition for its environmental conservation and achieved a notable 4 Stars rating under Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) Design & Build certification, and a Class B rating under GSAS Construction Management certification.
‘Since our inception, Our Habitas has been discovering new destinations, creative talent and magical natural landscapes, and putting them together in a way that drives human connection, exploration and play,’ added Our Habitas co-founder and CEO, Oliver Ripley. ‘In Ras Abrouq, we found a very special place to create a home for creative expression and adventure, in one of the most unique and undiscovered natural landscapes in the world.’
Our Habitas Ras Abrouq will open in January 2024 with rates starting from $700 per night.
